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Breaking up is hard to do, but for Randy Carlyle, it’s better than breaking down.

The Maple Leafs coach had little time for Saturday night sentiment, under threat of being blown out a second time at TD Garden. So he put Clarke MacArthur, Frazer McLaren and John-Michael Liles in the press box, Liles joining injured defenceman Mike Kostka.

“It’s always difficult to take people out,” Carlyle said at the morning skate, his way of letting down the scratched veterans easy. “But we’ve always (maintained) if we weren’t getting what we need from somebody, then a change would be necessary.

“You will need everyone in our club to make a contribution and we’ll continue to go in that direction. If you can help us, you’ll get the call.”

So in came four who’ve patiently waited out their minor roles in the final weeks of the regular season, forwards Matt Frattin and Ryan Hamilton and defencemen Jake Gardiner and Ryan O’Byrne.

If someone named Hamilton was going to have an impact in Game 2, most figured it would be Dougie, a first-round pick defenceman, more bounty from the Phil Kessel trade. That Hamilton subbed for the suspended Andrew Ference.

Ryan Hamilton wasn’t even on the radar before the series began, then started getting more of a look in the two practices after the 4-1 loss in Game 1. Bigger than MacArthur and a better match against Boston, Ryan made his NHL playoff debut after close to 500 pro games, with a nice assist on Kessel’s breakthrough goal.

It’s another amazing chapter of Ryan’s renaissance at age 28. When he had become captain of the Toronto Marlies last season, it was taken as a sign his NHL aspirations were officially done and he was accepting permanent minor-league status.

“The one thing about Ryan is, he’s going to do everything that he has in his power to make an impression to do his job,” Carlyle said. “If it means taking on a bigger man, if it takes blocking a shot to make a play, that’s his personality, That’s why he’s captain.

“We went through other people ahead of him. He’s been a great solider, a great example for a professional for our young players to see the work ethic and commitment that he makes to the game, day in, day out. And that’s another feather in his cap, because we’re looking at the individual first, the pro hockey player second. He’s done a combination of great things for both.”

Hamilton appeared on a couple of lines, an important tool in Carlyle’s machinations to out-wit counterpart Claude Julien’s advantage of last change at home.

When Boston scored its first goal, Hamilton was one of the Leafs who brought a calmness to the bench. And he executed a backhand pass in his own slot to old Marlies teammate Nazem Kadri, the kind of sloppy play that backfired in much of Game 1.

“Naz is such a great player and he communicated where he was,” Hamilton said. “And then Phil did a great job getting open.”

The stretch passes from the Leafs zone caused the Bruins fits on a few ocassions and neither could they break wide of Toronto checkers and defencemen on their rushes. O’Byrne helped there. One of the few Leafs with some playoff experience, going back to his days in Montreal, the big defender had also bided time hoping Carlyle would get to him.

“I’ve played in playoff series before and I’ve sat before,” O’Byrne said. “You wait for your opportunity and when it comes, make the most of it.”

Frattin delivered a few hits of his own, a relief after the coaching staff nagged him to restore that part of his game. And Gardiner used his speed, when he wasn’t under constant harrassment from Boston forwards trying to get in his way and spook him into giveways, a few of which James Reimer dealt with in goal.

“The work ethic that was demonstrated by our group is a thing that we demanded, asked, kicked, coddled, massaged, whatever word you want to describe,” Carlyle said.

“There was some doubt. Tonight eliminated that doubt. When we play our game and skate off the puck and move it effectively, we can be a hockey club that can compete. That’s really the most satifsying.”

But Carlyle didn’t tell any of the newcomers to get comfortable.

“The people pushed aside will get another chance down the line. We’re not casting people aside.”

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Breaking up is hard to do, but for Randy Carlyle, it’s better than breaking down.

The Maple Leafs coach had little time for Saturday night sentiment, under threat of being blown out a second time at TD Garden. So he put Clarke MacArthur, Frazer McLaren and John-Michael Liles in the press box, Liles joining injured defenceman Mike Kostka.

“It’s always difficult to take people out,” Carlyle said at the morning skate, his way of letting down the scratched veterans easy. “But we’ve always (maintained) if we weren’t getting what we need from somebody, then a change would be necessary.

“You will need everyone in our club to make a contribution and we’ll continue to go in that direction. If you can help us, you’ll get the call.”

So in came four who’ve patiently waited out their minor roles in the final weeks of the regular season, forwards Matt Frattin and Ryan Hamilton and defencemen Jake Gardiner and Ryan O’Byrne.

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment won’t be able to mark up the ticket prices, but their hockey team is at least trying to convince themselves they’re in the playoffs as the calendar approaches April.